It was late Febuary. Arthur and I had just left a World Conference together and were about to go out to get something to eat. Arthur and I were "depating", of course, over where we were going to go.
"I want to go to Boisdale of Belgravia! They're tea is spectacular."
"Do you WANT to kill us with your shitty British food? Besides, we are going for food, not tea, so we will go to La Tour d'Argent!"
Then, as usual, Alfred butts in and trys to persuade us to join him at one of his favorite fast-food places, but I knew his real goal was really to be with Arthur. I wasn't surprised with how quickly Arthur agreed, and I knew I had little chance of changing anything that Alfred wanted with Arthur around.
Arthur always acts so much diffrently when he is with Alfred," I thought to myself, Its almost like I don't matter anymore.
"Are you going to come, Francis?" Said Alfred, knowing that Arthur would wonder why he did not invite me if he did not ask.
"..." Reluctantly, I agreed.
On the way over, we ran into Matthew, whom had no plans at the current time. Since I knew I would be completly ignored by Arthur with Alfred here, I asked if he would like to come along with us.
"Would you like to join us, Matthew? I will pay for you." I was willing to do anything at that moment to make him come along.
Then, in his usual quite voice, he said "Okay..."
Sometimes I really wish Matthew would open up more. We barely talked at all on the way there. Alfred and Arthur were ahead of us, smiling, laughing. I could feel the jelousy burning inside of me.
I have been his friend much longer than Alfred has, I thought, Why does he treat him so much better?
The previous few months, Arthur had been acting diffrently around me. He had been more violant, and, at some points, would completly ignore me. And all he ever talks about is Alfred. Sometimes, I wish the both of them would just go away and never come back. But, I knew even if that did happen, I would miss Arthur. Because, no matter what happens, I will always care for him, no matter how deep in my heart it may be.
When we were almost there, Alfred and Arthur were still talking about who knows what. For a second, Alfred looked back at me when Arthur wasn't looking, and I could see the deep, burning hatred in his harsh blue eyes.
Since I was quite upset, I decided not to order for myself. I guess since I didn't order anything, Matthew felt as though he should do the same. Alfred turned, smirked, and then said "Thats fine, but could you at least find a table?" That face. That face that I hated so much. That face that I wish to never see again.
Once they were done ordering and Alfred was forcing down his food, out of nowhere, he started making jokes about the French... And it was beginning to bug me.
"And why do they smell so funny? And all they do is have sex and smoke. And they are total surrender monkeys. And-"
After that, I said two words, the two words that ignited the fire. The two words I wish I had never said.
"Shut up."
It all happened so fast afterwards. But everything that happened... It was all so clear.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?" Suddenly, without warning, he grabbed me by the collar. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! YOU ARE NOTHING. YOU'RE WEAK, AND A INSULT TO THE ALLIED POWERS! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? OR ARE YOU TOO STUPID TO DO EVEN THAT?"
I was in shock. I didn't know what to say. "DO YOU HEAR ME, YOU USELESS PEICE OF SHIT? EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT YOU, AND HOW THEY ALL WISH YOU WOULD JUST DIE! SO WHY DONT YOU DO THAT? YEAH, DO SOMETHING RIGHT FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!" He punched me in the face, and I felt the pain shoot through my mouth, and could hear the impact his fist had made. I held my hand up to my mouth, and it was bleeding severly. When I looked up, I saw Alfred... Laughing. Arthur and Matthew sitting there, just watching, doing nothing to help me. I'm not surprised that Matthew did nothing, considering how shy he is, but still, he could have at least told Alfred to stop, but... Arthur could have done something. Even though I was his friend for so long, he did nothing. Even though I would always be there and stand up for him, he did nothing.
I got up, and said the last words I would say to the three of them for a very long time, and the last time I would ever speak to Alfred and Arthur out of choice. "I do so little, and you act like I did something so big. You make everything I do wrong so much worse than it actually is," Then, I turned to Arthur, "... I was always there for you, but, up until recently, you were always there for me. I didn't notice me treating you any diffrently, but maybe I missed something. Maybe I missed the one thing that made you just sit back and watch as this bastard scolded me for standing up for myself." Then, while I was walking away, I said "I hate you, Alfred, and never want to see you again. And..." I stopped for a second, catching my breath, "Arthur... It is your fault that I will never trust anyone, ever again."
With that said, I ran out of the restraunt and could feel the hot tears, streaming down my face. Nothing could stop my tears, and nothing could change what had just happened. I would just have to learn to live without Alfred and, especially, Arthur. I know I will never be able to be as open with Matthew. I know that my weekly visits with Arthur will have to end. I don't know who I can talk to anymore that will be able to actually do something about it, and help me.
I found a dark, murky ally, that was, thankfully, empty. I sat by the side of a greasy dumpster, and just sat there, crying, thinking.
"Alfred and Arthur can go run away and die together for all I care," I muttered under my tears, "But... I know, that no matter what, my feeling for Arthur will never really change. My memories will remain, and that will be all I will have left of Arthur.
Several months have passed since that event that night. Now, summer has begun, and since it happened, I haven't thought of anything else, I have never slept well, and at random times, I begin to cry. Sometimes, I see Arthur and Alfred walking together, laughing, smiling, as me and Arthur had once done before.
Never will I trust someone as much as I had trusted Arthur, no matter who they may be. Because, no matter what, there is still a chance they may betray you.
Still... Francis had no idea what lied ahead of him after this summer night had ended.